Determination of Hourly Distribution of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) Using Sex Pheromone and Ultraviolet Light Traps in Protected Tomato Crops

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), a leafminer that damages tomato leaves, terminal buds, flowers, and fruits, is destructive pest responsible for 80–100% of yield losses globally. Different insect species have different courtship responses phototropic flight rhythms. Improving the trapping effects sex pheromone light traps important constructing an IPM system T. absoluta. The present study explored hourly distribution adults caught by (on ground) UV (380 nm) in greenhouses over 24 h. males to (false female) lures were detected at dawn early morning. lasted 3 h, from 05:30 (1 h before sunrise) 08:30 (2 after sunrise), 95.8% during this period. peak male was 07:30 (from 06:30 07:30, 1 80.8% (proportion 54.3%) female (45.7%) toward occurred 19:30 (time sunset) 11 exhibited scotophase rhythm; 97.4% flying 21:30 20:30 21:30, 2 sunset). rhythms males’ adults’ lights can help reveal mechanisms chemotactic phototactic may play significant role pest.